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Complex ideas are often considered as 
single and distinct beings, though they may 
be made up of several simple ideas, as a 
body, a spirit, a liorse, a flower : but when 
several of these ideas of a different kind are 
joined together, which are wont to be con- 
sidered as distinct, single beings, they are 
called a compounded idea, whether these 
united ideas be simple or complex. Com- 
plex ideas, however compounded and re- 
compounded, though their number be in- 
finite, and their variety endless, may be all 
reduced under these three heads, modes, 
substances, and relations. 
Complex proposition, is either that which 
hits at least one of its terms complex, or 
such as contains several members, as causal 
propositions ; or it is several ideas offering 
themselves to our thoughts at once, where- 
by we are led to aflfira the same thing of 
different objects, or different things of the 
same object. Thus, “ God is infinitely 
wise, and infinitely powerful.” In like 
manner, in the proposition, “ Neither kings 
nor people are exempt from death.” 
COMPLEXION, a term technically 
denoting the temperament, habitude, and 
natural disposition of the body ; but popu- 
larly signifying the colour of the face and 
skin. Few subjects have engaged the at- 
tention of naturalists more than the diver- 
sities among the human species, among 
which that of colour is the most remarkable. 
The great differences in this respect have 
given occasion to several authors to assert, 
that the whole human race have not sprung 
from one original ; but that as many dif- 
ferent species of men were at first created 
as there are now different colours to be 
found among them. It remains, in reality, 
a matter of no small difficulty to account 
for the remarkable variations of colour that 
are to be found among different nations. 
Dr. Hunter, who considered the matter 
more accurately than has commonly been 
done, determines absolutely against any 
specific difference among mankind. He 
introduces his subject by observing, that 
when the question has been agitated, whe- 
ther all the human race constituted only 
one species or not, much confusion has arisen 
from the sense in which the term species 
has been adopted. He therefore thiuks-it 
necessary to set out rvith a definition of the 
term. He includes under the same species 
all those animals which produce issue capa- 
ble of propagating others resembling the 
original stock from whence they sprung. 
This definition he illustrates by having re- 
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couTse to tlie human species as an exaniple« 
And in this sense of the term he concludes, 
that all of them are to be considered as be- 
longing to the same species. And as, in 
the case of plants, one species comprehends 
several varieties depending upon climate, 
soil, culture, and similar accidents ; so he 
considers the diversities of the human race 
to be merely varieties of the same species, 
produced by natural causes. 
Upon the whole, colour and figure may 
be. styled habits of the body. Like other 
habits, they are created, not by great and 
sudden impressions, but by continual and 
almost imperceptible touches. Of habits, 
both of mind and body, nations are sus- 
ceptible as well as individuals. They are 
transmitted to the offspring, and augmented 
by inheritance. Long in growing to matu- 
rity, national features, like national man- 
ners, become fixed only after a succession 
of ages. They become, however, fixed at 
last ; and if we can ascertain any effect 
produced by a given state of weather or of 
climate, it requires only repetition during a 
sufficient length of time, to augment and 
impress it with a permanent character. 
The sanguine countenance will, for this 
reason, be perpetual in the highest latitudes 
of the temperate zone ; and we shall for 
ever find the swarthy, the olive, the 
tawny, and the black, as we descend to the 
south. 
COMPOSER, in music, a practical mu- 
sical author ; so called in contradistinction 
to one who merely speculates in acoustics, 
and writes on the laws of harmony and me- 
lody, but does not concern himself withtlieir 
practical application in composition. 
COMPOSITE numbers, are such as can 
be measured exactly by a number exceed- 
ing unity ; as 6 by 2 or 3, or 10 by 5, &c. so 
that 4 is the lowest composite number. 
Composite numbers, between themselves, 
are those which have some common mea- 
sure besides unity ; as 12 and 15, as being 
both measured by 3. 
Composite order, in architecture, the 
least of the five orders of columns ; so 
called because its capital is composed out 
of those of the other columns, borrowing a 
quarter round from the Tuscan and Doric, a 
row of leaves from the Corinthian, and vo- 
lutes from the Ionic. Its cornice has sim- 
ple modillions or dentils. See Architec- 
ture. 
COMPOSITION of ideas, an act of the 
mind, whereby it unites several simple 
